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From: Giorgos “George” Antonopoulos, DDS
Lead Dentist Gentle Dental Abroad, Crete
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Dear Friend,
Things went unexpectedly wrong for Sharon Osbourne – media personality
and wife of rockstar Ozzy Osbourne-when her front tooth fell out during a
live taping of her show “ The Talk” back in December 2014. Sharon handled the
awkward situation gracefully (check out the video), but I am sure none of us
would like to be in her shoes.
Dental implants, when properly taken care of exhibit a long term success
rate of more than 95%. Caring for teeth restored with
dental implants is easy, just like caring for your natural teeth.
You should:
- Brush and
floss
- maintain
regular dental cleanings and check-ups at least once per year.
To help you keep your teeth
healthy at home a toothbrush and some additional
cleaning aids are recommended. Make sure to clean above and below the
gumline of your implant-supported tooth and in between your neighboring teeth
as described in this useful step by step guide.
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Step-by-Step Guide of daily
care of implant supported teeth
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1. Toothbrush
It
may be necessary to modify the brush for the inner side of the teeth and
hard-to-reach areas. A power brush can be a good alternative and an
easy-to-handle complement. If you have a bridge, make sure to clean under the
bridge.
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2. End-tufted
brush
A
soft end-tufted brush (interspace brush) is suitable for hard-to-reach areas
around your implant-supported tooth or the lingual surfaces (inner side of
teeth) and around the implant posts facial side (outer side) of your
implant-supported teeth. |
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3. Interdental
brush
The use of an interdental brush (interproximal
brush) helps in cleaning the sides of the implant-supported tooth, crown,
abutment posts and the surface under the bridge. Use the brush with a
back-and-forth stroke, gently pressing it against the side of the
implant-supported tooth or abutment posts. The
brush should not be too small, decreasing the cleaning effect, or too big,
causing discomfort when brushing. A plastic-coated threading is recommended.
Ask your dentist or dental hygienist for advice on the technique, size and
shape for your interdental brush.
Note: Never use toothpaste in combination with
the interdental brush. |
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4. Floss
In
narrow areas, where the interdental brush is hard to use, floss is recommended.
Clean the sides of your implant-supported tooth and abutment posts by passing
floss (thick floss) back and forth between the implant tooth and the
neighboring teeth, or through the space next to the abutment posts. Clean the
bridge adjacent to the gumline using a sideways stroke.
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Your new implant supported) teeth can last for a
lifetime. Yearly check-ups and daily care can help you maintain a healthy and
beautiful smile. For a very long time.
Answer back this email to ask me any questions about your smile.
Have a nice weekend
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Giorgos “George”Antonopoulos, DDS
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